Green Cane Palm, Malagasy palm
Dypsis madagascariensis

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

It can be a solitary palm or in tufts of 2-4. It grows 2-18 m tall. The trunk is 7-20 cm across. They are slightly swollen near the base. It tapers towards the top. They are greyish-green with prominent rings of leaf scars. The leaf crown is 7 m wide and 5 m tall. The crown-shaft is 25 cm high. It is smooth and light green. The leaves are feather like. The leaves are 3.1 m long and stiffly arch over. The leaves are in three rows up the trunk and have a sheathing base. There is a white mealy layer on the top of the sheath. The leaflets are 50 cm long and dark green. They grow in small groups. They come out at different angles giving a feathery appearance. The leaflets vary in shape and colour. The flowering stalks have broad branches and then many fine smaller branches. The flowers are yellow. The fruit are 1.5 cm long and oval and black.

There are 140 Dypsis species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dry open forests. It cannot tolerate cold. It does best in full sun. It can tolerate drought but does best with adequate moisture. It can grow on a range of soils but they must be well drained. A tropical plant. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens (As Chrysalidocarpus lucubensis). In Brisbane Botanical gardens. In Townsville palmetum.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Central America, East Africa, Hawaii, Indonesia, Madagascar (country/location of origin), Marquesas, Mayotte, Pacific, Panama, SE Asia, USA

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit, palm heart, cabbage, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Farihazo, Herihery, Hirihiry, Kizohazo, Kindro, Kizohazo, Madiovozona, Palem dypsis madagaskar

Synonyms

Chrysalidocarpus madagascariensis Becc.; Chrysalidocarpus madagascariensis var. lucubensis (Becc.)Jum.; Chrysalidocarpus lucubensis Becc.; Chrysalidocarpus madagascariensis var. oleraceaus (Jum. & H Perrier) Jum. Chrysalidocarpus oleraceaus Jum. & H Perrier;